{"id":13078,"date":"2026-07-22T01:18:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T20:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=13078"},"modified":"2026-07-22T01:18:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T20:18:16","slug":"ukraines-zelenskyy-fires-his-commander-in-chief-after-protests-and-major-rift","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=13078","title":{"rendered":"Ukraine\u2019s Zelenskyy fires his commander-in-chief after protests and major rift"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"anchor-f0441d\" class=\"body-graf\">The Ukrainian president fired his commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on Tuesday, bowing to pressure after the removal of popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov sparked the fiercest leadership crisis of his presidency.<\/p>\n<p><button class=\"styles_subscriptionCTA__LOUeY\" id=\"subscriptionCTA\" type=\"button\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" alt=\"NBC News Icon\" class=\"styles_icon__wRwWv\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_textWrapper__vxvko\">\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB styles_textLarge__qlzwu\">Subscribe to read this story ad-free<\/p>\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB\">Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/rockcms\/2026-01\/arrow-f55fa5.svg\" alt=\"arrow\" class=\"styles_arrow__tnruW\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/button><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-4a5443\" class=\"body-graf\">President Volodomyr Zelenskyy announced in a <a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/V_Zelenskiy_official\/20100\" target=\"_blank\">post on Telegram <\/a>that Syrskyi will be replaced by Mykhailo Drapatyi.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-dc4aa2\" class=\"body-graf\">Zelenskyy\u2019s decision to fire Fedorov, one of his closest allies, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/ukraine\/protests-ukraine-zelenskyy-defense-minister-fedorov-drone-war-russia-rcna587783\" target=\"_blank\">led to rare wartime protests on the streets of Kyiv<\/a>. Fedorov publicly aired his disagreements over military strategy with Syrskyi, known as \u201cThe Butcher.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-8ea532\" class=\"body-graf\">Syrskyi, 60, is a more traditional military commander focused on infantry and artillery, while Fedorov, 35, is seen as a modernizer, whose focus on technological advancements in drone warfare has led to Ukraine\u2019s recent successes in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/russia\/ukrainian-drone-attacks-kill-seven-warehouse-workers-russia-spark-fire-rcna588156\" target=\"_blank\">hitting Russia.<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-a1630a\" class=\"body-graf\">Worried Ukrainians, fearing that Fedorov\u2019s removal could wipe out those gains, took to the streets calling for Fedorov to be reinstated and Syrskyi forced out instead. A senior air force commander also quit in protest.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-5c0d3a\" class=\"body-graf\">Zelenskyy spent the weekend speaking to other top military commanders in an apparent interview process to potentially replace Syrsky. It is unclear whether Fedorov will remain in the government and, if so, in what capacity.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-e430bf\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cChange is inevitable,\u201d Fedorov said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FedorovMykhailo\/status\/2078539676441309661\" target=\"_blank\">post on social<\/a> media Saturday. \u201cThe dialogue is happening. I believe we will succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"styles_inlineImage__FvnTh styles_medium__MEKii\" id=\"anchor-58b636\"><picture class=\"styles_image__i32F7\" data-testid=\"picture\" data-flavor=\"fit\" data-original-height=\"1666\" data-original-width=\"2500\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260718-Mykhailo-Fedorov-ch-1049-0f39b9.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260718-Mykhailo-Fedorov-ch-1049-0f39b9.jpg 1x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 320px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260718-Mykhailo-Fedorov-ch-1049-0f39b9.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260718-Mykhailo-Fedorov-ch-1049-0f39b9.jpg 1x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260718-Mykhailo-Fedorov-ch-1049-0f39b9.jpg\" alt=\"Mykhailo Fedorov.\" height=\"1666\" width=\"2500\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"caption styles_caption__TCewG\" data-testid=\"caption\"><span class=\"caption__container\" data-testid=\"caption__container\">Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov holds a briefing in Kyiv on July 16.<\/span><span class=\"caption__source\" data-testid=\"caption__source\">Danylo Antoniuk \/ Future Publishing via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"anchor-04e455\" class=\"body-graf\">Zelenskyy did not give a reason for firing Fedorov last week but said he was effectively left with a choice between the defense minister and Syrskyi, who was heading the country\u2019s armed forces. The two were no longer communicating with each other, he said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-7cffd4\" class=\"body-graf\">Fedorov confirmed his spat with Syrskyi, saying that the commander-in-chief was not willing to discuss \u201cproblems\u201d directly and resisted reform of Ukraine\u2019s defense apparatus.<\/p>\n<section class=\"inline-video inline-video--in-body inline-video--vertical-video\" data-testid=\"inline-video\" id=\"anchor-cf626a\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__background\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__player\">\n<div class=\"styles_gridStackWrapper__Z_AMc styles_verticalVideoContainer__AndXW vertical-video-container inline-article-vertical-video paused\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-testid=\"gamma-video-player\">\n<div class=\"info-layer styles_infoLayer__3khlf\">\n<p><span class=\"styles_caret__Aqe2z icon icon-play\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-testid=\"caret\"\/><span data-testid=\"card-duration\">00:22<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_controlContainer__XmNB0 styles_inlineVideo__unIwH\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Video controls\">\n<p class=\"styles_title__0GjQf styles_inlineVideoInitial__c2yet\">Protests erupt in Ukraine over defense minister ousting<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"styles_gradientOverlay__6My_d\"\/><\/p>\n<p><span aria-label=\"Elapsed time 00:00\">00:00<\/span><span aria-label=\"Remaining time 00:00\">00:00<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p id=\"anchor-fb52de\" class=\"body-graf\">While he credited the commander-in-chief for Ukraine\u2019s wins in the early days of the war, \u201cthe war has changed\u201d because of drone advancements, he argued.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-40a282\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cWhy is this trajectory breaking now, and why are we veering off course? There is such a risk. And the Ukrainian people have taken to the streets for that,\u201d Fedorov said in a news conference.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-e6ccde\" class=\"body-graf\">Ukraine\u2019s deployment of low-cost drones has upended the battlefield and the traditional model of warfare, with Kyiv demonstrating<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/world\/ukraine\/ukraine-russia-ships-sea-azov-putin-crimea-rcna587419\" target=\"_blank\"> a growing ability to hit strategic sites deep inside Russia,<\/a> in addition to critical Russian-held targets within Ukraine\u2019s territory.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-d8147d\" class=\"endmark body-graf\">At the same time, Russian troops continue to slowly advance in eastern Ukraine, while a dwindling supply of missile interceptors has left Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities vulnerable to intense bombardment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"articleDevelopingTag\" data-testid=\"article-developing-tag\">\n<p>This is a<span class=\"articleDevelopingTag__content--red\"> developing <\/span>story. Please check back for updates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-social-share-bottom\">\n<div class=\"styles_expandedBylineContributors__piAGv articleBylineContainer\">\n<div class=\"styles_expandedByline__A_FvE article-expanded-byline\" data-activity-map=\"expanded-byline-article-bottom\">\n<div class=\"byline-thumbnail byline-thumbnail--has-image styles_thumbnail__LPjZA\" data-testid=\"byline-thumbnail\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/author\/mithil-aggarwal-ncpn1288084\" tabindex=\"-1\"><picture data-testid=\"picture\" data-flavor=\"focal\" data-original-height=\"48\" data-original-width=\"48\"><source media=\"(min-width: 320px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-60x60,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/newscms\/2024_18\/3646901\/mithil-aggarwal.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-60x60,f_auto,q_auto:best\/newscms\/2024_18\/3646901\/mithil-aggarwal.jpg 1x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-60x60,f_auto,q_auto:best\/newscms\/2024_18\/3646901\/mithil-aggarwal.jpg\" alt=\"\" height=\"48\" width=\"48\"\/><\/picture><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"expanded-byline__bio-wrapper styles_bio__hOj3l\">\n<p class=\"byline-bio styles_bio__hOj3l\">Mithil Aggarwal is a Hong Kong-based reporter\/producer for NBC News.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"styles_expandedByline__A_FvE article-expanded-byline styles_noThumbnail__vMsPC\" data-activity-map=\"expanded-byline-article-bottom\"><span class=\"byline-thumbnail byline-thumbnail--no-image styles_thumbnail__LPjZA\" data-testid=\"byline-thumbnail\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"expanded-byline__bio-wrapper styles_bio__hOj3l styles_noThumbnail__vMsPC\">\n<p class=\"byline-bio styles_bio__hOj3l styles_noThumbnail__vMsPC\">Daryna Mayer is an NBC News producer and reporter based in Kyiv, Ukraine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Yuliya Talmazan<!-- --> <!-- -->contributed<!-- -->.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ukrainian president fired his commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi on Tuesday, bowing to pressure after the removal of popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov sparked the fiercest leadership crisis of his presidency. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. President Volodomyr Zelenskyy announced in a post on Telegram that&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13079,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_nbcnews-fp-1200-630,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260718-Oleksandr-Syrskyi-ch-1046-ae0aff.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13078","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13078"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13078\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13078"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13078"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13078"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}